Govt. outlines plans to support mainstream media

Providing printing subsidy, capacity
building courses and enhancing media council are plans that the government is
looking into to address various challenges faced by the mainstream media.

This was divulged by information and communications
minister Karma Donnen Wangdi when quizzed by the Member of Parliament (MP) from
Bartsham-Shongphu constituency in Trashigang, Passang Dorji (Ph.D), on possible
government intervention to address the challenges the mainstream news
organizations are facing, which include financial, human resource and market
during the deliberation in the National Assembly yesterday.

According to the MoIC minister, printing subsidy of
Nu 2.609mn, which sums up to about 50% of the cost, are planned to be provided
by the government. In addition, content development grant of Nu 3mn are already
in the budget allocation bill.

The ministry will also provide human resource
assistance services as stated in the 12th Plan.

“Long term training for 57 individuals, diploma
courses for 30 and short term courses for 225 will be provided to foster the
human resource challenges,” the minister said.

The government, it was informed, will also enhance
media council, which has been constituted as per the Information Communications
and Media Act 2018. The independent
organization is aimed to promote and protect freedom and independence of the
media, accredit and certify journalists practicing in Bhutan and protect the
freedom of press and promote its functioning.

Lyonpo Karma Donnen Wangdi
added that the importance of media and communication is known to everyone and
media is considered to be the fourth estate. “It is considered to be one of the
most vital components,” he added.

According to the minister, starting 2011 to
2017 the government has invested Nu 23.5mn on mainstream news organizations
(newspaper and television), including budgets for Dzongkha language software,
capacity development training, workshop, study tours and grants for content
development and annual media awards.

“Other assistance such as
Journalists Association of Bhutan (JAB) spends six million in media tourism
projects which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation
(SDCs).While UN democracy fund contributed an amount of Nu 8.7mn from 2016 to
2018,” the Lyonpo added.

Additionally, it was also
informed that the then government provided a seed fund of Nu 3mn to start JAB
and that the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources had been providing courses
and trainings to the journalists.

Meanwhile, MP Passang Dorji
suggested that the government should frame policies aligning to the freedom of
the press.

The MoIC minister said the
challenges regarding financial and human resources are due to changing process
of the policies and relevant organizations are yet to be established.

“Once such organizations are established, it will help mainstream news organizations solve those challenges,” he added.